PJ O'Mullan Jnr will reprise his role as Loughgiel Shamrocks manager next year.

O'Mullan, who guided the Antrim club to an All-Ireland club hurling title in 2012, returns after taking a break this year to have reconstructive surgery on his right ankle. He was replaced by Joe McGurk who couldn't prevent the Shamrocks from surrendering their county title to Cushendall at the quarter-final stage.

"I was given another year," a refreshed O'Mullan told the Belfast Telegraph after interviews were conducted in recent days.

"We started training in February 2010 and apart from four weeks off after an Ulster campaign, we had no break until September 1, 2014.

"It was four-and-a-half years on the road without a break and a lot of those years we were together into February and March as part of the All-Ireland series. I was tired and the players were tired and to be honest I had more or less said my goodbyes.

"But then after a few interventions here and there, I thought about it personally and a couple of players asked me if I would come back, and then a few supporters asked me and other people asked me.

"I let my name go forward again and that's how the whole thing came about. 

"The players are the most important people and I would say a lot of our players are hurting from the way we exited the championship this year. We will just get back and the bit will be between our teeth. We will work hard and see where it takes us."

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